I’m a fan of packing as much storage into interiors as possible. But I also appreciate flexibility and an open, lightweight look. So often, instead of big, built-in solutions, I assemble collections of furniture that meet storage needs without feeling bulky. Think free-standing cabinets with tall legs flanking the living room fireplace to house a collection of cherished family photo albums.

I also want to take a moment to rant about console tables. There are so many beautiful designs, but with nearly all of them, I want to scream, “Put a drawer on it!” As far as I can see, there is no good reason not to have a drawer and a shelf on a console table – someplace to stash a bag, a pair of shoes, the spare keys, or the doggie bags.

Work with what you have

Don’t be afraid of working with what you have. If you have extra space in your laundry room and not enough in your pantry, use that space for pantry items! However, this is not permission to be haphazard in your storage habits. Keep like things with like things.

Though we are moving toward being a paperless society, we are not quite there yet. One good tip I heard from an organization-fairy-godmother, and love to practice, is to sort the mail as it comes into the house. Unnecessary items are tossed into the recycle bin, and the mail is placed in a tray to take further action with later. It helps so much to prevent clutter by deciding right at the door what you will allow into your home.

Starting fresh

When designing a remodel or new build, we as designers are positioned perfectly to help our clients (or ourselves!) optimize daily flow, both customizing spaces, and maximizing organization.

When designing kitchens, I take inventory of what types of tools, appliances, and supplies my clients have, and then design their kitchen to have high-frequency use items close at hand and low-frequency use items further away from the main work area. Knife collection? Have a drawer for that! Paper towels in bulk? Have a cabinet for that! Sparkling water obsession? Have a shelf for that!

One client wanted a dedicated space for their sacred morning coffee ritual. The solution took advantage of an enclosed stairwell protruding inconveniently into the kitchen. The depth of the stairwell is now hidden by the kitchen’s new “coffee center” and pull-out pantry nestled perfectly behind. The client gained a hallowed space for coffee in the morning, extra accessible storage, and maximum square feet in their new kitchen.

Call in a professional

As professionals, we know and preach the value of bringing in experts. We know when we need to bring in an architect, a surveyor, or Title 24 consultant. Personally and professionally, I have benefitted from professional organization services. We want our community to value us as experts, so let’s practice what we preach! Let’s call in the dedicated closet designers, the qualified garage outfitters, and the professional organizers.

What I strive for in my interior design practice, and in my own home, is to create spaces that support a meaningful life. Each space must be thoughtfully considered, planned, and optimized with beautiful silhouettes, useful storage, organizational tools, and negative (empty) space. Designing our homes well give us space in our lives to do more of the things that are meaningful to us!